USC Upstate Student-Athletes Combine for Record GPA in Classroom during Fall Semester

Jan 09, 2019

Spartanburg, S.C. -- The USC Upstate athletics department saw its student-athletes enjoy their most successful performance in the classroom during the fall semester as the Spartans posted a combined 3.233 grade-point average, securing the highest department GPA for the semester in school history.

Among 242 student-athletes, USC Upstate continued to excel in the classroom as 14 of its 17 athletic programs posted a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Men's Tennis logged the highest GPA among all athletic teams at 3.773 followed by Softball (3.565) and Women's Tennis (3.510). Teams also earning a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher include Women's Soccer (3.415), Women's Basketball (3.403), Women's Cross Country (3.371), Women's Golf (3.367), Volleyball (3.292), Men's Soccer (3.230), Men's Cross Country (3.205), Women's Track & Field (3.169), Baseball (3.135) and Men's Basketball (3.020).

"Since my arrival last summer, I have been thoroughly impressed with our student-athletes' commitment to academic excellence," said Daniel Feig, USC Upstate Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. "While we all enjoy watching them achieve success with their teams on the field, behind the scenes they have been quietly working hard, putting in long hours in the study hall, and achieving remarkable successes in the classroom, while working towards their ultimate goal of graduation. I couldn't be prouder of this group of Spartan student-athletes and their extraordinary academic success. I also want to thank our athletic academic staff and coaches--this kind of department-wide success wouldn't be possible without their unwavering support and consistent reinforcement of the message that academic achievement is the single most important success that our student-athletes can attain while in college, and I am so grateful to have them on my team!"

In addition to the 3.233 grade-point average, 24 Spartan student-athletes finished the semester with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Overall 172 student-athletes, making up over 71 percent, achieved a 3.0 GPA or above for the semester.

"We are really proud of how our student-athletes performed in the classroom last semester," said Sarah Gildersleeve, USC Upstate Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Enrichment. "Achieving a department GPA of a 3.23 shows their dedication to the ultimate goal of graduation. We are eager to get the spring semester started and watch this group continue to achieve academically and athletically."

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The University of South Carolina Upstate is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
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